Martin Klimke

Vice Provost; Associate Professor of History; Global Network Associate Professor of History Affiliation: NYU Abu Dhabi
Education: MA, PhD University of Heidelberg

Research Websites: Family Business Histories The Civil Rights Struggle, African American GIs, and Germany The Nuclear Crisis

Research Areas: intersections of political and cultural, diplomatic, and transnational history, 20th century US-European relations, Cold War


Martin Klimke’s research explores the intersections of political and cultural, diplomatic, and transnational history. It is dedicated to the role of America in the world with an emphasis on processes of transnational exchange in US-European relations in the 20th century, and more particularly in the period of the Cold War. Klimke analyzes the multifaceted impact “American” ideas and cultural practices have had once adopted in different sociopolitical settings, and the ways in which US history has become intertwined with other countries’ politics and societies.

The increasingly global cultural, political, and military presence of the United States, especially after World War II, as well as the country’s complex entanglement with the forces of globalization, are at the center of his scholarly interests. A special focus of his research is transnational protest movements, processes of cultural transfer, and global networks of dissent, e.g., with respect to 1960/70s protest movements, the African American freedom struggle in the 20th century, or the grassroots activism of the 1980s.

Klimke studied at the University of Göttingen, Amherst College, and the University of Heidelberg. Before joining NYU Abu Dhabi, he taught at the University of Heidelberg, Georgetown University, Rutgers University, and Meiji University, Tokyo.

He is an associated faculty member in the Department of History at NYU New York and an associated researcher at the Heidelberg Center for American Studies (HCA) at the University of Heidelberg as well as in Transatlantic Cultural History (TCH) at the University of Augsburg, Germany.

As Vice Provost for Academic Policies and Governance, Klimke advises the Provost on faculty-focused initiatives, as well as academic policies and procedures. He is responsible for clarifying policies and processes related to faculty rights and responsibilities in accordance with the NYU Faculty Handbook and respective NYUAD guidelines, as well as providing a liaison to faculty governance bodies and committees. He also facilitates the development and implementation of initiatives supporting faculty opportunities and connectivity in NYU’s global network in full consultation with the relevant deans and program heads.

At NYUAD, he has served as the Program Head for History, Chair of the Faculty Council Steering Committee, Senator, Associate Dean of Humanities, Vice Provost for Academic Policies and Governance, as well as Co-Chair of the university-wide Faculty Advisory Committee on NYU’s Global Network.

Courses Taught